Peters



` (No Model.)

W. B. MURRAY. VAULT FOR UNDERGROUND GONDUITS.

m Penna Pmumognpmr. wuningum |:.c.

f UNITED STATES To all whomt may concern Be it known thatI, WILLIAM B. MURRAY, a citizen of the United States, residing in tain Improvements in Vaults for Underground Conduits, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in man-hole entrances and covers for vaults or testing-chambers, lcommunicating with underground ducts forvtelegraph wires and cables; and the object ot' my inventiomwhich is fully described hereinafter, is to eectually prevent the entrance of water into the vault.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a vertical section of part of the roof or a vault or testing-chamber illustrating my improve- A. ments; Fig. 2, a sectional plan on the line ict l 2; and Fig. 3, a sectional view, showing a 2o modification of my invention.

g In Figs. 1 and Z, A represents part of the arched roof of an underground vault or testingchamber, with which the subterranean ducts for telegraph-wires communicate. From the paved surface a: of the street, and through the roof ot the vault, extends a casing, B, prefera-bly of cylindrical form, and on an internal ledge, m, in the upper end of the casing fits a cover, D,which may be hinged at y', and which should be made of plate or malleable iron, in order that it may resist the shocks to which it must be subjected by passing vehicles. To prevent the bending and distortion of the cover it bears on a grating, E, of cast-iron,

which rests on a ange or lugs', t, in the casing. At a short distance-below the grate E there is within the casing and projecting therefrom a flange, G, the uptnrned portion dof which is in the present instance made of the tapering form shown, an annular receptacle, y, referred to hereinafter, beingthus formed between the said flange and grating.

A cover, H, shaped like an inverted dish, has a flange, c, corresponding, or nearly so, withthe tapering portion ofthe ange G of the casing, and between the two iianges isinterposed apacking-ring, i, of rubber or other equivalent material, so as to make a perfectly water-tight joint. A bar, F, extends across 5o the cover and serves to depress it and keep Vit down, one endof the bar iittin g into a recess in one side of the casing and the other end, which is slotted, fitting over a staple, which is secured to the opposite side ot the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, haveinvented cer-` PATENT OFFICE.

-WILLIAM E. MURRAY, on PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, AssIeNoR oF ONE-,HALE To CALVIN' DErRIeK, 0E sAME PLAGE.

.VAULT FOR UNDERGROUND CONDUITS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 257,743, dated May 9, 1.882.

Application filed January 19, 1882. (No model.)

casing, and which receives the shackle of a padlock, for it is important that none but authorized parties should have access to the vault. i

The outer cover, D,which mayiit accurately enough in the first instance, soon becomesloose enough to permit the entrance of water into the casingB; hence the importance of having a perfectly-tight joint within the easing for pr'eventing water from dropping ontothe telegraph wires or cables which pass through the vault.

An attempt has been made to render the man-hole of avault ot' the class to which my invention relates water-proof by placing on a ledge within a casting which does not extend through the roof a simple plate without any applianoes for depressingand keeping it downa plan which has failed to exclude water from the vault. Practice has determined. the fact that to make the joint tight there must be appliances for forcing down the cover. It is not essential, however, that the bar F should be used as a meali's for holding down the cover. There may be, for instance, a bar, F', Fig. 3, provided with a screw, m', for bearing on the cover, and the head of this screw may be so constructed that it will require an instrument of .peculiar construction in the possession of an'authorized person to operate it.

vI prefer'in all cases to make the flange G of the uptnrned character shown, so that it will form the receptacle y, previously referred to.

Prior to removing the cover H it is not necessary to take pains to remove all the water lodged in the casing. A portion of the water may remain in the receptacle y, for it' cannot find its way therefrom into the vault.

I claim as my invention- The combination of the vault A, the casing B, cover D, and support for the same, npturned tlan ge G, forming a receptacle, y, cover H, the an ge and cover being constructed substantially as described, whereby a packing ring may be interposed between the two, and a device for keeping the said cover H down to its place, all substantially `as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WM. B. MURRAY. Witnesses: y

HARRY DRURv, HARRY SMITH.

IOO 

